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LEGO Boost 1

Building Just Got A Lot More Fun With LEGO Boost! {Giveaway!}

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Like almost every kid out there, my children love building with LEGO! Over the years, our building habits have evolved from simply putting together the sets from the instructions, to creating whatever pops in to our heads, but the constant is that LEGO keeps us busy and creative for hours at a time.

With my son taking part in the Coding Club at his school, something I am constantly jealous of, I was excited to hear about LEGO’s newest product, LEGO Boost! Boost is a 5-in-1 model that introduces building and coding in one super-charged LEGO set, letting children add sound, movement and personality to their LEGO creations, bringing to life anything they can imagine! The LEGO BOOST Toolkit recently arrived on our doorstep and the kids were very excited to start their #BUILDwithBOOST adventure!

LEGO Boost 3

You can choose to build any of the 5 models, including Frankie the Cat, Guitar4000 and the M.T.R.4. We choose to start with Vernie the Robot as he seemed like a ton of fun! The kids and I had different ideas about how to start our new project, with them wanting to dump all 11 bags out at once, while I wanted a more level-headed and dadly approach. Needless to say, dad won that round!

LEGO Boost 2

After that, we downloaded the free LEGO Boost app and got started on building Vernie! Before we continue, please note that a tablet running iOS 10.3 and newer/Android 5.0 or above is required to build and play with LEGO® Boost™, so make sure your device is compatible by visiting LEGO.com/DeviceCheck before purchasing.

The app was amazing and very easy for the kids to follow along with. Full disclosure here, with 832 pieces, dad helped a little with the building as the kids were so excited to start giving commands to their creation. Plus, I am a giant child, so the opportunity to build with LEGO is still an exciting prospect for me…

LEGO Boost 4

Once Vernie the Robot was complete, the real full began! First things first, the kids absolutely fought over who would get to test him out first, which was ultimately decided by a rousing game of rock, paper, scissors. I was amazed watching as my kids used the LEGO Boost app to learn how to code on the spot and they had Vernie doing all sorts of tricks within a matter of minutes.

LEGO Boost 5

For the last week now, the first thing the kids want to do when they wake up and then get home from school is to play with their new robot friend. I’m usually careful about how much screen time they are getting but I can’t complain about it when they are teaching themselves how to code while also having a blast with their LEGO. Next up for us will be checking out the incredible BOOST BOTS series on YouTube, where we’ll be able to see what is possible with LEGO BOOST for those of us who like to put away the instruction manuals!

LEGO Boost 6

I honestly can’t say enough good things about LEGO Boost and if your kids are into LEGO, or coding, this would make the perfect gift for them! And because I believe in this product so much, I want to put a LEGO Boost in your home this holiday season! Feel free to fill out as many Rafflecopter entries below as you’d like and I’ll be giving away a LEGO Boost kit to one lucky reader!! Giveaway is open to residents of Canada, excluding Quebec.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: We received a LEGO Boost kit to facilitate this post, however it really is one of the best toys we’ve ever played with!

Full House Netflix

My Family’s Netflix Streaming List – June Edition

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So this Netflix thing is growing on me. As odd as it sounds, I think I was using it incorrectly when we first signed up a year ago. I’d watch the odd movie here or there but never really dug in and explored everything it had to offer. In the last few months my family has been going through the list of titles and picking out things we’d like to watch at some point. Slowly but surely we trying out new shows and I wanted to share what each of us are enjoying right now. Besides, the family that Netflixes together, stays together. Right??

Dad (That’s Me!) – Daredevil

It should be noted that I am a full on superhero/comic nerd, so I wasn’t sure what to expect out of this new Netflix original version of Daredevil. Man, did it ever blow my mind! I rarely feel like a show is perfectly executed but this is the closest thing I have ever seen to that. Vincent D’Onofrio’s, Wilson Fisk character, will leave you with chills running down your spine!

Daredevil Netflix

Mom – Bloodline

This is one that I started without my wife and then felt guilty about it because it was so good. After we rewatched the first episode, she was hooked and we finished the whole season in less than two weeks. This show takes family disfunction to a new and exciting level! I have no idea how they are going to top what they did in Season 1 but I am really looking forward to it.

Bloodline Netflix

7 Year Old Son – Beyblade (All of them!)

My son doesn’t watch a lot of TV but he is addicted to these Beyblade shows on Netflix. If you have a young boy you will no doubt be feeling the Beyblade craze right now. I have no idea what happened as Beyblades had all but disappeared from existence, only to come back with a vengeance and take over our whole street! I’ve sat with him and watched the Beyblade shows and I have to admit that they are pretty cool.

Beyblade Netflix

5 Year Old Daughter – LEGO Friends

We started my daughter with Barbie’s Life in the Dreamhouse but as soon as she saw the LEGO Friends show, she was hooked. True to 5 year old fashion, we have watched the same episodes multiple times in a row and she never seems to tire of it. It’s almost like she thinks there is going to be a different outcome one of these times…

LEGO Friends Netflix

Bonus Show! – Full House

Last but not least, the original episodes of Full House have graced the Netfix platform and we have it slated to show the kids in the next week or so. I have no idea how it is going to hold up but the kids are starting to enjoy more than just cartoons, so I’m hopeful that we can share a bit of our youth with them!

Full House Netflix

That’s what we are streaming this month. How about you? Are you a Netflix subscriber? If so, what are you binging on at the moment?!

Win LEGO From ‘The LEGO Movie’ Courtesy Of Tag Along Toys!

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Since I began blogging two years ago, I have developed a new appreciation for the term “Shop Local”. There is something really special about the small businesses that make my city great and I have been able to find this out first hand. I have had the pleasure of meeting many of Ottawa’s small business owners and am constantly amazed by their kindness and hospitality.

My first experience with this was when I stumbled into Tag Along Toys for a wine and cheese event that they were running. That night I met the owner, Patti, and we have been good friends ever since. My favourite part about going in to Tag Along Toys is that it always feels like I am at home while I shop there. Everyone is greeted with a smile as they walk in and now my kids even ask if we can go see Patti, even though they know they won’t always get a toy.

It’s through local businesses and owners like Patti that I have learned the true value of supporting local companies and I highly encourage you to do the same. To thank YOU and all of her customers, Patti from Tag Along Toys has asked me to help her in giving away some very cool LEGO sets from the recent hit, The LEGO Movie!

We will be selecting two winners and each will get one of the sets in the image above. The only catch is that you have to be able to pick them up in store at 499 Terry Fox Dr in Kanata. Deal? Alright, just head down to the form below and get yourself entered so you can scream “Everything Is Awesome” when you win! After you enter, you should pop in to the Tag Along Toys Facebook and Twitter pages to say hi to Patti for me!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lego Captures Fatherhood Beautifully

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For those new to the site, from time to time I like to feature commercials that portray fatherhood in a positive light. This tradition has actually resulted in one of my most inspirational moments as a blogger. This past week, I was introduced to a new commercial from LEGO® that captures everything I love about being a father, and I wanted to share it with you all.

The commercial is a simple yet very effective look at everything being a father means to me. LEGO® are the latest in a line of companies who have shifted the way they are marketing to families, specifically fathers. From Tide and Downy to Clorox and Dove Men+ Care, it seems like the days of the bumbling, useless dad are fading quickly and I’m excited to watch the new trend unfold.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this commercial and the new trend of the modern father being represented in a more caring and competent light.

Lego + Star Wars = A Great Giveaway From Tag Along Toys

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Tag Along Toys

I can’t think of a better way to introduce a new advertiser to the site, than to run a giveaway for some of their merchandise. Especially when that merchandise combines two of my favourite things in Star Wars and Lego!

Before we get to the giveaway, I would like to introduce you to my new advertiser and one of my favourite places to visit in my city, Tag Along Toys. It’s probably no surprise to people that know me, that I like to hang out in toy stores whether my kids are with me or not. The difference with Tag Along Toys is that it is a local small business that always makes you feel like a part of their family whenever you visit.

The owner, Patti, always has new things for the kids to do, from charity spa days to visits from real princesses, my kids ask to go in every single time we drive by and I can’t blame them. In good news for all of you, Tag Along Toys has just launched their online shop as well, so now all of you can check it out and find a lot of toys that you can’t get at the big box stores.

How about a giveaway to kick off this new partnership? Patti had generously donated this amazing Lego Star Wars, Darth Vader LED Desk Lamp and in honour of the new online store, has opened up the contest to all of Canada (excluding Quebec).

Star Wars Lego

 

All you have to do to win is “Visit Tag Along Toys Website” and leave a comment here letting me know which toy your child would like most. That’s it. I’ll draw the winning comment at Noon on May 10th and we’ll ship it out to you! Good Luck!

 

 

For more great deals and giveaways, you can also follow Tag Along Toys on Twitter and Facebook.